Automatic paper feed and cutting mechanism for photocopier machine

ABSTRACT

A dual roll paper supply is elevatable by a motor drive into a position of easy access for replacement of depleted rolls and is automatically retractable into operable engagement with paper feeding and cutting mechanism within an automatic photocopier. Automatic supply sensing means effects an immediate transfer of paper feeding from a depleted roll to a second reserve roll within the machine, while an electric control circuit including relays, solenoids and microswitches effects cutting of uniform lengths of paper for the electrostatic production of master copy plates.

Unlted States Patent 1191 11 1 3,843,253 Mikan et al. 1 Oct. 22, 1974 1AUTOMATIC PAPER FEED AND CUTTING 3,474,692 10/1969 Sames 355/29 uxMECHANISM FOR PHOTOCQPIER 3,639,055 2/1972 Schleifenbaum 355/29 MACHINE3,645,157 2/1972 DiGiulio et al. 355/13 X 3,710,664 1/1973 Eveland83/205 X [75] Inventors; Donald G, Mikan, Ridgefield; 3,727,499 4/1973Boston 355/13 X Robert J. Williamson, Jr., Hamden, both of Conn- PrimaryExaminerRobert P. Greiner [73] Assignee: Pitney-Bowes, lnc., Stamford,Conn. Attorney f or F'rmw1lham sohow Albert W. Scnbner; Robert E. Meyer[22] Filed: Mar. 9, 1973 v 1 1 pp 339,732 57 ABSTRACT A dual roll papersupply is elevatable by a motor drive into a position of easy access forreplacement of de.

33/650, 242/58, 242/56 R, pleted rolls and is automatically retractableinto oper- [5 Int. able engagement with paper feeding and cutting ofSearch 29, 16, mechanism an automatic photocopier Auto- 226/1 56 R,83/203, 205, 650 matic supply sensing means effects an immediatetransfer of paper feeding from a depleted roll to a secl l ReferencesCited ond reserve roll within the machine, while an electric UNITEDSTATES PATENTS control circuit including relays, solenoids and micro-,143947 8/1964 Limberger 242/553 x Switches effect? cutting of uniformlengths 0f Paper for 3145197 4/1966 Small the electrostatlc productionof master copy plates. 3,418,047 12/1968 Lee et a1 3,425,777 2/1969White 1 Clam 11 D'awmg PATENTEDucI 22 1974 3.643.253 SHEET 10$ 7PATENTEUBIIIZZ-M a'aas'zss ROLL FIRST BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Theinvention relates to improvements in electrostatic photocopier machines,and more particularly to an improved supply, feed and cutting mechanismwhereby an entire days supply of photo master paper may be easilyinstalled by an office worker, such as a secretary or inexperiencedclerk, simply through placing two light-weight rolls of paper into amotorized carrier which is automatically raised to a convenientwaistlevel height for loading and then automatically retracted into themachine where it locks itself. into proper position for automaticallyfeeding paper on command from first one roll and, if and when that rollis used up, the mechanism automatically switches to feeding paper fromthe second, or reserve, roll. Upon switchover to the reserve roll,sensors automatically change the cutting sequence time to assurecontinuous cutting of uniform lengths of paper masters regardless ofdifferences in path length of the paper web from the first and secondsupply rolls.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A general object of the invention is to provideimproved means for rapid and automatic production of offset masterplates in an electrostatic copier machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for continuouslydelivering a webof photosensitive paper into a photocopier, cutting theweb successively into uniform lengths for platemaking, and transportingthe exposed plates to a developing station.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a plurality ofsupply rolls of photocopy paper in a power driven means for extractingthe paper supply from the copier, raising the supply mechanism to aconvenient position exterior of the copier for ease of replacing paperrolls, and then retracting the supply into locking operative engagementwith the paper feeding and cutting means.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation of themechanism of the invention with the raised position of a dual paper rollholder shown in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical view of the paper feed and'controlapparatus, seen generally in the right hand portion of FIG. 1, showingin greater detail the paper path, paper hold, and control microswitches;

FIG. 5 is a vertical end view of the apparatus of FIG.

along the line 4, partially cut away;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of the paper cutter for the upper feedroll as shown generally in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of the paper cutter for the lower feedroll as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG.8 is a detail of the clutch drive and stationary knife blade;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG.'6;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the control switches and relatedcircuitry; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the swing arm control for loading andlocking the paper supply system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in greaterdetail to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, a parallel pair ofvertically disposed swingable arms 11a, 1112 are pivotally supported ona horizontal shaft 12 mounted on a rigid structure frame indicatedgenerally at 14. In and between the arms 11a, 11b is mounted a firstdriven pressure roller 15 in frictionalengagement with a first idlerroll 16, and a corresponding second driven roller 17 engaged with asecond idler roll 18. Driven rollers 15 and 17 are each connected,respectively, through electromagnetic clutches 19 and 20, chains 61,61a, and a gear train 61b to a main drive motor 21. Also mounted on andsupported by swing arms 11a, 11b are a first pair of cooperating paperroll holders 22 and a second pair of cooperating paper roll holders 24thereabove as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The paper roll holders are adaptedto receive and rotatably support the hubs of first and second rolls 2Sand 26 of electrophotographically sensitive paper. Pivotally mounted onswing arm 11a are a pair of spring loaded feeler arms 27 and 28 carryingrollers 27a and 28a positioned to bear upon the outer surfaces of paperrolls 25 and 26 and to operate associated microswitches whenever theouter diameter of their respective paper rolls diminishes to the pointthat paper on that roll has been depleted. For example, when the supplyof paper on roll 26 has been depleted, feeler arm 28 actuatesmicroswitch 29 mounted on arm 11a by depressing the switch tab 29a whichextends through an opening in the arm 11a. This disengages first driveclutch 20 and simultaneously engages second drive clutch 19 wherebypaper web is fed from second supply roll 25 through the cutting andprocessing mechanism as will hereinafter be described in detail. Acorresponding switch 29' is provided for similar cooperation with thesensing arm 27.

The sequential operational steps involved in loading the paper supplysystem will now be described with specific reference to FIG. 1 of thedrawings. The operator first moves a momentary spring loaded manualswitch 30 to its upward position which sumultaneously energizes asolenoid 30a to release a latch 31 (FIG. 3) and energize a swing armdrive motor 32 to operate in a forward direction. Motor 32, through aright angle worm gear drive and clutch 34 drives a chain 35 to rotate asprocket wheel 36 which is mounted by a bushing 37 and bolts 38 to arm11a, whereby arms 11a, 11b are caused to swing upwardly (in a clockwisedirection as seen in FIG. 1) about the axis of shaft 12. The motor 32continues to operate only so long as the operator maintains fingerpressure on spring loaded switch 30, so that when the swing arms 11a,11b are elevated to their horizontal position as shown by broken linesin FIG. 1 the switch 30 is released and motor 32 stops. The operatorthen proceeds to remove and discard spent paper roll spindles and toreplace fresh rolls, such as 25 and 26, in holder pairs 22 and 24. Theleading edge 39 of paper from roll 25 is passed between rollers and 16(as seen more clearly in FIG. 3) by the operator turning a knob 40mounted on the end of roller 17 (FIG. 2). In the same manner, theleading edge of paper from roll 26 is passed over guide roller 41through paper guide chute 42 and between rollers 17 and 18 by a slightturn of knob 44 which is mounted on the end of roller 17. A brake 45 ismounted on the shaft of upper driven roll 17 adjacent to manual knob 44to prevent wasting over-ride of this drive roller when itselectromagnetic clutch is de-energized. A similar brake 46 is mounted onthe shaft of lower driven roller 15, adjacent to manual knob 40, toaccomplish the same purpose when clutch 19 is disengaged. Thus theclutch 20 in combination with brake 45 cooperate to produce positivelimited driving action of paper drive roll 17, and in the same mannerclutch l9 cooperates in combination with brake 46 to provide positivelimited driving action of lower drive roll 15. The manual knobs 40 and44 over-ride the respective clutches 19-20 and the brakes 45-46 when theoperator initially loads the machine with paper rolls and 26 to startthe leading edges of paper from the two rolls into the bite between thetwo driving rolls 15 and 17 and their respective pressure engaging idlerrolls l6 and 18. With the proper supply thus loaded, the operator thenmerely depresses momentary switch which energizesswing arm drive motor32 to operate in reverse thereby lowering swing arms 11a, 11b (in acounterclockwise direction about shaft 12) until they are retracted intothe base of the machine as shown by solid lines in FIG. 1. When thelatch 31 (FIG. 3) engages, the paper supply assembly mounted on arms11a, 11b is locked into operative position and the machine is ready toproduce electrostatic master copies as will now be described.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings the paper supply assemblyindicated generally at 13 includes two substantially identical paperdrive and cutting systems 47 and 48 mounted on and between swing arms11a, 11b. The first and lowermost paper drive system 47 includes aninput paper guideway 49 through which the leading edge ofpaper from roll25 is inserted by the operator into the bite between driving pressurerolls 15 and 16 at the time of loading as described above. Subsequentlywhen the driven roll 15 is rotated by a chain drive 61 (FIG. 2), whenthe control circuit of FIG. 10 calls for paper feed, the leading edge 39of paper web from roll 25 is driven by rollers 15-16 past the open knifeedge 50 into the bite of drive rollers 51-52, thence through guideway 53into the bite of drive rollers 54-55, through guideway 56 into anelectrostatic charging box 57, and from there into the bite of driverollers 59-60. It is to be understood that the successive driven rollersin this path, 15, 51, 54 and 59 are all driven simultaneously and at thesame rate by the common drive chain 61, through clutch 19 as shown inFIG. 2 of the drawings.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, as the paper web exits frombetween drive rollers 59-60 of paper supply assembly 13 it engages anupwardly curved guide 62 which deflects the paper web upwardly intoengagement with the front surface of a vertical moving belt conveyorindicated generally at 64. Belt 64 moves in a clockwise direction (asseen in-FIG. 4) around an upper roller 65 and a lower roller 66. Atleast one of the rollers 65 or 66 is driven by a suitable drive belt,and preferably both are driven as shown by broken lines in FIG. 1. Thevertical conveyor belt 64 is actually formed of a plurality of separateparallel flexible pierced bands 67, 68 and 69 having parallel verticalspaces 70-71 therebetween, as shown in FIG. 5. The several belts, 67, 68and 69 which comprise the conveyor 64 pass through openings in a plenumchamber 73 so that the upwardly moving portion of the belt overlies theleft surface of the chamber (as seen in F IG. 4). This surface ispierced with openings 72 and a pair of vacuum fans 74 and 75 are mountedon chamber 73 whereby vacuum is created between the front and back ofconveyor 64 to hold the paper web flat against the exposed face of theconveyor belt 64. Mounted on the front portion of chamber 73 in thevertical space 70 between belts 67 and 68 are vertically disposedmicroswitches 76, 77 and 78, each in a position to be operated by theleading edge of paper web as the same is moved vertically upward by theconveyor belt assembly 64. The upper microswitch 76 actuates a shortduration high intensity electronic flashlight to expose an optical imageof copy focused on the vertical master paper Referring once again toFIG. 2 and FIG. 3 it will be seen that the paper cutting systems 47 and48 mounted on the paper supply assembly 13 (FIG. 3) each include a pairof horizontally extending knife blades, 50 and 50' and -80 respectively.Blades 50 and 80' are movable, while blades 50 and 80 are stationary.Both blades of each cutting system are normally spring biased into theiropen (separated) positions whereby the paper web passes fullytherebetween as it is driven forward by the paper drive rollers. Whenpaper is being fed into the machine from the lower paper supply roll 25the microswitch 78 (FIG. 4) is deactivated by the control circuit ofFIG. 10 and the paper web is carried by the vertical conveyor belt 64upwardly to the point where the leading edge of paper passes overmicroswitch 77 which causes energization of solenoid 81.

(FIG. 2) which actuates linkage 81a to operate movable knife blade 50'into cutting engagement with stationary knife blade 50 whereby theprescribed length of paper for one exposure is cut. The cut length ofpaper continues to move upwardly, being held flat against the frontsurface of vertical conveyor 64 (FIG. 4) by the vacuum therehehind untilthe entire cut sheet of master paper is in position for exposure. Atthis position the upper edge of paper on carrier 64 passes overmicroswitch 76 causing instantaneous operation of the high intensityelectronic flash which produces an exposure in less than l/lOOO secondfocused onto the plane of the vertically moving sensitized sheet. Theexposed sheet continues its upward travel on the support of continuouslymoving vertical carrier 64 and the leading edge of exposed paper isfunnelled into a vertical guideway 84 and into the bite of drivingpressure rollers 85 and 86, thence between driving rollers 87 and 88 andthrough a curved guideway 89 into a developing system (not shown).Immediately upon the completion of one exposure by the actuation ofmicroswitch 76 as described above, the apparatus is ready to produceanother master in the same manner.

When the supply of paper on supply roll 25 has been exhausted, thefollower arm 27 (FIG. 3) depresses the tab 29a of microswitch 29(FIG. 1) which extends through an opening in swing arm 11a. Thisoperates to energize a relay in the control circuit of FIG. wherebypower is removed from driving rollers 15 and 51 of cutting system 47 anddriving power is applied to driving rollers 17 and 23 of upper cuttingsystem 48. Because of interlocking relay connections in the controlcircuit of FIG. 10 this condition can only occur following a cuttingoperation by knife blades 50-50' (the last full sheet cut from roll 25)so that no paper remains in the path from cutter system 47. Since .theleading edge of paper web from fresh supply roll 26 was initially fedinto the bite between driven roller 17 and pressure roller 18 when theoperator loaded the paper supply assembly 13 as described above, thisweb of paper is now driven through the space between open knife blades80-80 and into the bite of rollers 23-33 and thence into the upperguideway 91, through rollers 54-55, through electrostatic charging box57 and rollers 59-60, and onto the bottom guide 62 of the verticalconveyor system 64 (FIG. 4). This moving web of paper, now coming fromthe upper reserve supply roll 26, is carried upwardly in FIG. 4 by thevacuum carrier belt 64 and when the leading edge of paper web passesover microswitch 78 the second solenoid 82 is energized to operate knifeblade 80' which cuts the web to a length as predetermined for one mastersheet to be exposed. As mentioned above, the path length from knifeblade 80 to microswitch 78 is the same as the path length from knifeblade 50 to microswitch 77, so that sheets of equal length are cutregardless of which supply roll is feeding paper. Because of theinterlocking circuitry of the electrical control system shown in FIG.10, the circuit of niicroswitch 77 which controls the first cutter 50'is deactivated when paper is being fed from the reserve roll 26. Thesheet of sensitized paper which has now been cut by knife blade 80continues its vertical travel along vacuum conveyor 64 until the leadingedge intercepts microswitch 76 and an exposure is made, and then theexposed sheet is passed on to the developer as described hereinabove.

The means by which the various electromechanical elements such asclutches, brakes, driven rollers, solenoids and cutters, etc. arecontrolled to operate in the sequential order as described hereinabovewill now be explained in greater detail with particular reference to theschematic diagram of FIG. 10. The condition shown in FIG. 10 is foroperation of paper feed from the upper roll 26 as illustrated in FIG. 3of the drawings. Two control relays K-l and K-2 are employed to operatethe entire switching system. Relay K-] is a bistable latching relayhaving two separate operating coils 94 and 95, each with five sets ofform C single pole double throw contacts. Relay K-2 is a double poledouble throw relay having a single operating coil 96. A third relay K-3may be a light reed relay which merely supplies a trigger pulse for thecommand to print. For ease of understanding the several relay contactsare shown physically disassociated from their respective operating coilsin the schematic of FIG. 10. AC operating power for the entire system ofFIG. 10 is supplied over lines 91-92. For operation of paper feed fromthe lower roll 25 (FIG. 3) the positions of the contacts of relay K-lare merely reversed from the condition shown in FIG. 10.

Still referring to FIG. 10, the coil designated L8 is the energizingcoil for the upper brake 45 in FIG. 2, L9 is the energizing coil forlower brake 46, L10 is the energizing coil for the upper clutch 20, andLll is the energizing coil for the lower clutch 19. The brake coils L8and L9, and the clutch coils L10 and L1] are all DC operated andaccordingly direct current power is supplied for each of L8 through L11by full wave rectifiers CR1 through CR4 as shown in FIG. 10. The brakeoperating circuits each have an R-C network, Cl-Rl for L8 and C2-R2 forL9, to enable instantaneous application of maximum operating voltage forpositive instant braking operation. Thus, employing brakes designed for24 volt operation, a maximum initial surge of approximately volts isapplied from full wave rectifier CR1 until capacitor C1 is fullycharged, at which time resistor R1 drops the brake holding voltage tothe prescribed value of 24 volts. Network C2-R2 operates in the samemanner when lower brake coil L9 is energized. Brake coil L8 operates tostop and lock the upper brake 45 (FIG. 2) which is mounted on the upperdriven roller 17 (FIG. 3), and coil L9 operates in the same manner onbrake 46 of lower driven roller 15. The brake coils L8 and L9 arenormally energized. Brake coils L8 and L9 are only de-energized duringpaper feeding. Operation of the drive clutch coils L10 and L1] isinitiated by a command to print when the operator closes a print switchconnected to reed relay K-3. A start pulse generated by closure of K-3turns on triac gate 03 through a resistor R11. Operation of Q3 energizescoil 96 of relay K-2. Relay K-2 is then locked in through the upper rollcut switch 78, normally closed contact of relay K-l, and a normally opencontact of K2 as shown in FIG. 10.

Operation of relay K-2 simultaneously de-energizes upper brake coil L8and energizes upper clutch coil L10. Closure of relay K-2 applied DCcharging current to a capacitor C3 from a voltage divider formed by R6and R7 through a diode rectifier D3 until a charge of approximately15-20 volts is built up on capacitor C3. When the knife switch 78 (FIG.4) is operated by the leading edge of paper passing the'reover, relayK-2 drops out and the charge previously built up on capacitor C3triggers triac gate 01 which energizes the upper knife solenoid 82 asshown in FIG. 10. Knife solenoid 82 remains energized until capacitor C3has fully discharged through R4 and R5 and O1 is released.

An optical coupler OCI which is energized when bistable latching relayK-l is in the state shown in FIG. supplies a signal to a display boardto indicate to an operator when either or both rolls of paper have beenexhausted. The single pole double throw switch S in FIG. 10 is themicroswitch 29 operated by follower arm 28 which rides on the surface ofthe upper paper supply roll 26 as described hereinbefore with referenceto FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 of the drawings. While the upper roll is supplyingpaper switch S15 remains in the position shown in FIG. 10. However, whenthis supply roll is almost exhausted and the feeler arm has moved insubstantially to the paper roll core, S15 transfers to the number 2contact thereby conditioning coil 94 of relay K-l to transfer to itssecond bistable state. Relay K-l, however, can only operate during a cutcycle when switch 78 is open because otherwise the K2 contact between C3and relay coil 94 is open. So upon receipt of the next command to print,this K2 contact closes, connecting C3 to coil 94, relay K-l transfers toits second state and thereafter paper supply is fed from the lower roll.At this time one signal lamp is lighted on the display board, throughenergization of optical coupler OCl, to signal the operator that onefresh roll of paper may now be added to replace the exhausted upperroll. Resistor R5 is a dummy load simulating the impedance of coil 94 ofrelay K-I whereby a constant discharge rate is assured for capacitor C3regardless of the position of switch S15. R9 is a similar dummy load forcoil 95.

The lower roll operation of braking, clutching and cutting is carriedout by the lower brake L9, the lower clutch L1], the lower knifesolenoid 81 and the lower roll cut switch 77, through K! in its secondstate, in exactly the same manner as described above in reference to themode of upper roll operation. Ifthe lower supply roll of paper shouldnow be used up before the exhausted paper roll has been replaced,follower switch 816 which is the microswitch 29 operated by follower arm27 as described hereinbefore with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 will thentransfer to the opposite condition shown in FIG. 10 and a second signallight will by illuminated on the display board through operation ofoptical coupler 0C2. In this condition further printing is inhibitedand, if desired, an alarm may be sounded to call the operator toreplenish the paper roll supplies. The lowermost pair of relay contactson relay K-l as shown in FIG. 10 operate signal lamps 97 or 98 whichindicate the mode-in which the apparatus is operating at any given time,and to indicate to an operator whether the upper or lower supply rollshould next be loaded.

Reference is now had to FIG. 11 of the drawings which showsschematically the electrical control circuit for raising and loweringthe paper supply system as described generally hereinabove withreference to FIG. 1 of the drawings. In FIG. 11 a single pole doublethrow switch 30 is manually operable in its upward position to cause theswing arm drive motor 32 to elevate the paper roll carrier from withinthe copier machine (as shown by broken lines in FIG. 1), and in itsdownward position switch 30 reverses motor 32 to lower the paper supplycarrier into operating position within the copier machine. Switch 30isspring biased to normally'remain in its neutral center position as shownin FIG. 11. One side of the AC power line, designated AC Hi, isconnected to the single pole armature of switch 30 and the other side ofthe power line, designated AC L0, is connected to the motor 32 as shown.A control relay K6 having two normally open contacts and one normallyclosed contact is connected between the lower terminal of switch 30 andthe AC Lo line. For simplicity of exposition the three contacts of relayK6 are shown physically disassociated from the K6 operating coil in FIG.11. A latch switch 8-39 which is associated with the drawn carriagelatch 31 in FIG. 3 is operated, as is the latch 31, by a solenoid 30aconnected between the upper contact of switch 30 and the AC Lo line.When the operator raises switch 30 a circuit is closed thereby toenergize solenoid 300 which immediately releases latch '31 (FIG. 3) andthen closes switch S-39 to apply power through the normally closedcontact of relay K6 to the upper side of motor 32, causing the motor toelevate the paper supply carriage as shown in FIG. 1. An upper limitswitch S-36 is mechanically intercepted by the rising paper carriagewhen the swing arms reach their uppermost position as shown by brokenlines in FIG. 1, to disconnect power from motor 32. Thus switch S-36prevents any inadvertent over-riding of motor 32 and possible damage tothe machine in the event that the operator may hold the switch 30 in itsraised position longer than necessary to fully elevate the carriage.

After the paper supply roll or rolls are replaced by the operator,switch 30 is then manually depressed momentarily to close its lowercontact and thereby cause motor 32 to operate in the opposite directionwhereby the swing arm carriage is lowered back into its normal operatingposition within the copier machine as shown by solid lines in FIG. 1 andFIG. 3 of the drawings. Closure of the lower contact of switch 30energizes the coil of relay K6 which now opens its normally closedcontact and closes both of its normally open contacts. AC power is nowapplied through closed relay K6 to the lower side of motor 32 causing itto operate in the reverse direction to lower the paper supply carriage.When the carriage has been lowered to an angle of 45 degrees, amechanical switch 5-37 is closed by engagement with the frame of thecopier and relay K6 now locks in through one of now closed but normallyopen contacts so that the relay K6 remains operated even when theoperator releases switch 30. Motor 32 continues to lower the carriageuntil it is seated into its lowermost operating position, as shown bysolid lines in FIG. 1, latch 31 (FIG. 3) locks and lower limit switchS-38 opens, de-energizing relay K6 and motor 32.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and,since certain changes may be made in the above construction withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention which,as a matter of language, might be saidto fall therebetween.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A multi-roll paper supply system for an electrostatic photocopiercomprising in combination:

A. a first paper feeding and cutting means including:

1. means rotatably mounting a first paper supply roll;

2 a first pair of rotatably driven pressure rolls on axes parallel tosaid first paper supply roll and in proximity thereto;

3. a first normally de-energized electromagnetic clutch drive mounted onat least one pressure roll of said first pair;

4. a first electromagnetic brake on said clutch driven roll;

5. a normally de-energized solenoid operated first knife blade adjacentsaid driven rolls;

B. a second paper feeding and cutting means includmg 1. means rotatablymounting a second paper supply roll;

2. a second pair of rotatably driven pressure rolls on axes parallel tosaid second paper supply roll and in proximity thereto;

3. a second normally de-energized electromagnetic clutch drive mountedon at least one pressure roll of said second pair;

4. a second electromagnetic brake on said clutch drive roll;

5. a normally de-energized solenoid operated second knife blade adjacentsaid driven rolls;

C. motor means for continuously driving said first and second clutches;

D. means normally energizing said first and second brakes into holdingcondition whereby said first and second rolls are prevented fromrotation;

E. first control means operable upon command to selectively de-energizesaid first brake and simultaneously therewith to energize thecorresponding first clutch mounted on the same one of said first drivenrolls, whereby paper from the first paper supply roll is fed by saidfirst pair of driven rolls into a focal plane position of saidphotocopier;

F. first and second switches located in said focal plane positionoperable by said paper passing thereover; said first and second switchesbeing located equal predetermined distances from said first and secondknife blades respectively;

G. second control means operable by said first switch to de-energizesaid first clutch, energize said previously de-energized first brake andenergize said adjacent solenoid operated first knife blade allsubstantially simultaneously, whereby paper fed by said driven rolls iscut to a preselected length as determined by the paper path lengthbetween said first switch and said first knife blade;

H. third switch means in said focal plane operable by paper passingthereover to initiate an electronic flash for image exposure;

I. paper supply sensors on each of said first and second supply rolls;and

J. further control means responsive to said first sensor means sensing asubstantially empty first supply roll to permit said second controlmeans to be operable by said second switch to de-energize said secondclutch, energize said previously deenergized second brake andselectively energize said adjacent solenoid operated second knife bladeall substantially simultaneously, whereby paper is now fed to said focalplane position by said second driven roll and is cut to a preselectedlength as determined by the paper path length between said second switchmeans and said second knife blade.

1. A multi-roll paper supply system for an electrostatic photocopiercomprising in combination: A. a first paper feeding and cutting meansincluding:
 1. means rotatably mounting a first paper supply roll;
 2. afirst pair of rotatably driven pressure rolls on axes parallel to saidfirst paper supply roll and in proximity thereto;
 3. a first normallyde-energized electromagnetic clutch drive mounted on at least onepressure roll of said first pair;
 4. a first electromagnetic brake onsaid clutch driven roll;
 5. a normally de-energized solenoid operatedfirst knife blade adjacent said driven rolls; B. a second paper feedingand cutting means including
 1. means rotatably mounting a second papersupply roll;
 2. a second pair of rotatably driven pressure rolls on axesparallel to said second paper supply roll and in proximity thereto;
 3. asecond normally de-energized electromagnetic clutch drive mounted on atleast one pressure roll of said second pair;
 4. a second electromagneticbrake on said clutch drive roll;
 5. a normally de-energized solenoidoperated second knife blade adjacent said driven rolls; C. motor meansfor continuously driving said first and second clutches; D. meansnormally energizing said first and second brakes into holding conditionwhereby said first and second rolls are prevented from rotation; E.first control means operable upon command to selectively deenergize saidfirst brake and simultaneously therewith to energize the correspondingfirst clutch mounted on the same one of said first driven rolls, wherebypaper from the first paper supply roll is fed by said first pair ofdriven rolls into a focal plane position of said photocopier; F. firstand second switches located in said focal plane position operable bysaid paper passing thereover; said first and second switches beinglocated equal predetermined distances from said first and second knifeblades respectively; G. second control means operable by said firstswitch to deenergize said first clutch, energize said previouslydeenergized first brake and energize said adjacent solenoid operatedfirst knife blade all substantially simultaneously, whereby paper fed bysaid driven rolls is cut to a preselected length as determined by thepaper path length between said first switch and said first knife blade;H. third switch means in said focal plane operable by paper passingthereover to initiate an electronic flash for image exposure; I. papersupply sensors on each of said first and second supply rolls; and J.further control means responsive to said First sensor means sensing asubstantially empty first supply roll to permit said second controlmeans to be operable by said second switch to de-energize said secondclutch, energize said previously deenergized second brake andselectively energize said adjacent solenoid operated second knife bladeall substantially simultaneously, whereby paper is now fed to said focalplane position by said second driven roll and is cut to a preselectedlength as determined by the paper path length between said second switchmeans and said second knife blade.
 2. a first pair of rotatably drivenpressure rolls on axes parallel to said first paper supply roll and inproximity thereto;
 2. a second pair of rotatably driven pressure rollson axes parallel to said second paper supply roll and in proximitythereto;
 3. a second normally de-energized electromagnetic clutch drivemounted on at least one pressure roll of said second pair;
 3. a firstnormally de-energized electromagnetic clutch drive mounted on at leastone pressure roll of said first pair;
 4. a first electromagnetic brakeon said clutch driven roll;
 4. a second electromagnetic brake on saidclutch drive roll;
 5. a normally de-energized solenoid operated secondknife blade adjacent said driven rolls; C. motor means for continuouslydriving said first and second clutches; D. means normally energizingsaid first and second brakes into holding condition whereby said firstand second rolls are prevented from rotation; E. first control meansoperable upon command to selectively de-energize said first brake andsimultaneously therewith to energize the corresponding first clutchmounted on the same one of said first driven rolls, whereby paper fromthe first paper supply roll is fed by said first pair of driven rollsinto a focal plane position of said photocopier; F. first and secondswitches located in said focal plane position operable by said paperpassing thereover; said first and second switches being located equalpredetermined distances from said first and second knife bladesrespectively; G. second control means operable by said first switch tode-energize said first clutch, energize said previously de-energizedfirst brake and energize said adjacent solenoid operated first knifeblade all substantially simultaneously, whereby paper fed by said drivenrolls is cut to a preselected length as determined by the paper pathlength between said first switch and said first knife blade; H. thirdswitch means in said focal plane operable by paper passing thereover toinitiate an electronic flash for image exposure; I. paper supply sensorson each of said first and second supply rolls; and J. further controlmeans responsive to said First sensor means sensing a substantiallyempty first supply roll to permit said second control means to beoperable by said second switch to de-energize said second clutch,energize said previously de-energized second brake and selectivelyenergize said adjacent solenoid operated second knife blade allsubstantially simultaneously, whereby paper is now fed to said focalplane position by said second driven roll and is cut to a preselectedlength as determined by the paper path length between said second switchmeans and said second knife blade.
 5. a normally de-energized solenoidoperated first knife blade adjacent said driven rolls; B. a second paperfeeding and cutting means including